Governor Freddy Bernal: What Venezuela is demanding is the cessation of sanctions that prevent it from moving forward

Published at: 19/04/2026 05:04 PM

This Sunday, April 19, the governor of the state of Táchira, Freddy Bernal, said that Venezuela does not ask to be given anything as a gift, but rather that the sanctions that prevent access to opportunities to move forward end.

“We never ask that they give us anything, what we ask is that they give us opportunities to move forward, despite these criminal actions against Venezuela and after the border with Colombia was reactivated, we rose (commercial exchange) to 1,165 million dollars between Colombia and Venezuela.”

In this regard, he specified that Táchira contributes 36% of the aforementioned figure to trade with the north of Santander.

He stressed that because of criminal sanctions, it has not been possible to make the necessary social investment, to serve industrialists because of financial obstacles, “you can't even receive remittances from those who are abroad, you have to go to Colombia because economic sanctions don't allow it.”

This was stated in the state of Táchira, during his speech at the event held at the headquarters of the Association of Cattle Farmers of the State of Táchira (ASOGATA), within the framework of the Great Pilgrimage United for a Venezuela without Sanctions and in Peace.

Bernal stressed that with the lifting of sanctions, Táchira will make an extraordinary leap in economic matters, “it's going to be impressive”, while insisting emphatically on the creation of the Special Border Economic Zone.

He stressed that Táchira “is the hinge that connects 30 million consumers (Venezuela) with another 50 million consumers in Colombia. Besides, we have a tradition of working, we are not lazy.”